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Nanyang Technological University Library

EE6508

NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION 2014 - 2015

EE6508 POWER QUALITY

April / May 2015 Time Allowed : 3 hours

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper contains 5 questions and comprises 6 pages.

2. Answer ALL 5 questions.

3. All questions carry equal marks.

4. This is a closed-book examination.

1. (a) Explain two common causes of voltage variation in power systems.

(5 Marks)

(b) As shown in Figure 1 on page 2, a substation supplies a manufacturing plant

through a dedicated 100 MVA transformer which has a reactance of 10% at
100 MVA base. The substation also supplies other loads. It is known that the
short circuit capacity (SCC) at the substation can vary between 1250 – 2000
MVA.

The manufacturing plant has a large induction motor (IM) which is rated
1 MW with full load efficiency of 90% at a power factor of 0.85 lagging. The
inductor motor has a starting current which is 6 times its full load value.

(i) Calculate the expected maximum values of voltage sag at the

manufacturing plant terminals and at the substation busbar, when the
1-MW induction motor is being started.

(ii) If the voltage sag at the substation busbar is to be limited to less than
0.5% when the induction motor is being started, determine the power
rating of a static VAr compensator (SVC) to be installed at the
manufacturing plant terminals. What is the corresponding voltage dip
at the terminals of the manufacturing plant?

Note: Question No. 1 continues on page 2

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EE6508

(iii) If the SVC determined in part (ii) were connected to the substation
busbar instead of at the terminals of the manufacturing plant, what are
the magnitudes of the voltage dip at the substation busbar and at the
terminals of the manufacturing plant? Comment on the results.

State any assumptions made in your calculation.

(15 Marks)

Figure 1

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EE6508

2. (a) Explain what is a CBEMA curve. Discuss two power quality problems which
are relevant to this curve.
(6 Marks)

(b) Two alternative drive systems, A and B, are being considered for a
factory. The voltage dip performance of the power distribution system, which
supplies the factory, and the sensitivity curves of drives A and B are shown
in Figure 2.

On the basis of the expected number of interruptions due to voltage dips,

determine which of the two drive systems is preferable for the factory.

(14 Marks)

Figure 2

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EE6508

3. (a) Explain what is magnification of capacitor switching voltage in power

systems and list two methods to alleviate the effects of such voltage
magnification.
(6 Marks)

(b) Figure 3 shows a three-phase, 22-kV, 50-Hz power system with a shunt
capacitor bank C.

Figure 3

It is known that the 66/22kV transformer has a reactance of 5% at 50 MVA

base and the system resistance is negligible. The capcitor bank is delta
connected and is rated 25 MVAr, 22 kV, 50 Hz.

(i) Calculate the value of leakage inductance of the transformer and the
value of capacitance C for one phase star representation of the system.

(ii) If the capacitor bank was fully discharged when it was switched in by
closing the switch S,

• derive the equation for the transient voltage across C,

• calculate the frequency of the transient voltage when the switch S is
closed,
• what is the maximum possible value of the transient voltage across
C? and
• how long will it take to reach this voltage after the switching?

State the conditions under which the maximum voltage will be

observed.

How will the above answers change if the source had a non-negligible
resistance.

(14 Marks)

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EE6508

4. (a) Electric utility companies often enforce harmonic current limits on individual
customers. Briefy explain how the limits are established and how this method
is able to control the amount of distortion in power networks.
(5 Marks)

(b) Figure 4 shows a distribution substation supplying power to a three-phase

converter load at Bus B through a 33/11 kV transformer. The magnitudes of
the harmonic components in the converter phase current are also shown in the
figure. With Bus B considered as the point of coupling (PCC), the short circuit
capacity at the PCC is 50 MVA at 11 kV. The maximum fundamental load
current is 40 A at 11 kV. Determine whether the converter load complies with
the harmonic current limits as specified in IEEE Standard 519-1992,
reproduced as in Table 1.
(12 Marks)

(c) Suggest a method to overcome the situation if the requirements of IEEE

Standard 519-1992 are not met.
(3 Marks)

Figure 4

Table 1

I sc /I 1 h < 11 11 < h < 17 17 < h < 23 23 < h < 35 35 < h THD

< 20 4.0 2.0 1.5 0.6 0.3 5.0
20 < 50 7.0 3.5 2.5 1.0 0.5 8.0
50 < 100 10.0 4.5 4.0 1.5 0.7 12.0
100 < 1000 12.0 5.5 5.0 2.0 1.0 15.0

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5. (a) In traditional three-phase distribution systems, the neutral wire is much

smaller than the phase conductors because the neutral current is expected to
be negligible when the load is balanced. However, in today’s systems, the
neutral wire is often designed to be twice the size of the phase conductor,
even when the load is balanced. Explain the reasons that make it necessary to
design such a large-sized neutral wire.
(6 Marks)

(b) Figure 5 shows a 22-kV, three-phase power source with negligible impedance
connected to twelve identical single-phase converters at the end of a 5-km
feeder. The feeder phase conductors have an impedance of 2mΩ/km at the
fundamental frequency. The feeder neutral wire is twice the size of the phase
wire and is made of the same material. At the system nomial voltage, each
converter is found to draw 100 A of fundamental frequency current and the
following harmonic currents:

3rd harmonic - 50 A
5th harmonic - 30 A
7th harmonic - 20 A

If the converters are evenly distributed amont the three phases, calculate

(i) the current flowing in the neutral wire, and

(ii) the magnitudes of the harmonc voltages at the end of the feeder.

State any assumptions made in your calculation.

(14 Marks)

Figure 5

END OF PAPER